Apparatus for lining can ends



Aug. 1, 1950 R. K. PoTTLE 2,516,908

APPARATUS Fox LINING CAN ENDS Filed Sept. 24, 1945 y 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN OR. @Az/ M BMM/M ATTO RN EYS Aug. 1, 1950 R. K. POTTLE APPARATUS FOR LINING CAN ENDS Filed Sept. 24, 1945 V2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 1.,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR LINING CAN ENDS Ralph K. Pottle, New York, N. Y., assignor to American Can Company, `New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 24, 1945, Serial No. 618,280

(Cl. ill-12) 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for lining can ends with a sealing compound or the like material and has particular reference to` seat or joint between the end and the can body.`

Sometimes a comparatively deep channel is required,as in friction plug or slip covers and it has been found that during the process of lining these ends, air or` other gaseous substances such as` may be given off by the solvents or the like in the compound, are often trapped inthe channel by the entering compound and thus form voids in the compound. Also air may be mechanically mixed with the compound due to the fact that compressed air acting against the compound is often used to deposit it in the can ends. In

many of these voids the entrained air or other substances bubble through `the compound to its outer sealing surface and breaks the continuity of the gasket so that its `hermetic sealing proper-` ties are destroyed. Such an imperfect gasket if incorporated in a can sealed under partial vacuum conditions permits atmospheric air to leak into the can with the result that deterioration of the contents of the can takes place.

The instant invention contemplates overcoming this diiiiculty by providing an apparatus for practically exhausting the air or other gaseous substances from the sealing channel of such can ends before the lining compound is deposited in the channel, so that the forming of voids in the resulting sealing gasket will be prevented.

An object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus for producing an unbroken sealing gasket in a sealing channel of a can end wherein the channel is exhausted of practically all gaseous substances prior to the depositing of a fluid sealing compound therein so that the rechannel of the can ends to be lined, with there-M suitant forming of voids and unbroken sealing" Vsurfaces in the depositedsealing compound, `will be eliminated.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better under` stood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,1

discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings: f

Figure l is a horizontal section of a machine for carrying out the method steps of the instant invention, with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section taken substantially along the broken line 2-2 in Fig.` 1, i with parts broken away, and with parts shown in H full lines;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken subi stantially along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1, with parts i broken away;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail in hori i zontal section taken substantially along the line i in planeleva- 4 4 in Fig. 2, parts being shown tion; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the chan. nel portion of a can end and an elevational view 11 of a .portion of a lining device depositing a sea1` the instant invention.

As a preferred embodiment of the instant in`` vention the drawings illustrate` a machine for sulting sealing gasket will be free of voids and surface irregularities.

Another object is the provision of such an apparatus for lining can ends wherein the lining operation is eifected in a partial vacuum so that any free air, mechanically mixed with the compound or any gaseous substances emanating from the compound will be dissipated to the end that trapping of such air or gaseous substances in the "lining a sheet metal can end A (Fig. 5) having a .f countersunk panel B and an adjacent peripheral i comparatively deep channel Cv for cooperation. with a seat on a can to locate and hold the en 1` in place on the can.

posited in the channel. i

Since the channel is entirely free for practical purposes of all gaseous substances, the compound settles into a compact `mass free of voids and thus provides a sealing gasket E whichisi free of any surface irregularities which might otherwise be prevalent if air or the like `was One form of apparatus for carrying .out

trapped in the channel, as hereinbefore men-fA tioned. After a canend has been lined, :its seal-` a non-.vacuous atmos-Z` ing gasket may be dried in phere if desired.

V2,516,9os

method is shown in the drawings and includes a partially vacuumized chamber II (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) which is enclosed partly by a table I2 formed as a part of a main frame I3 and partly by a cover plate I4 which is secured to the frame. A rotatable entrance valve I 6 is disposed in a seat I'I formed in the frame I3 adjacent one side of the chamber and a rotatable discharge valve I8 is located in a seat I9 formed in the frame adjacent the opposite side of the chamber. These together with table and cover plate complete the chamber enclosure. The chamber is'maintained in a partially vacuumized condition through the medium of a pipe connection which leads to any suitable air or gas exhausting source.

Can ends A to be lined are fed into the en trance valve I6 from any suitable source of supply in an inverted horizontal position with the open side of the channels C up, this being the end position shown in Fig. 5. This feeding may befeffected by a reciprocating feed bar 2i having a feed dog 22 which engages behind a can end and advances it along a runway 23 having side rails 24 which guide the can end toward the Valve. The feed bar may be actuated in any suitable manner in time with the other moving parts of the machine.

An advanced can end A is received in a pocket ZIin'the entrance valve le. The drawing shows six of these pockets arranged around the pen riphery of the lower section of the valve and each pocket is brought adjacent the feed-in runway 23 to receive a can end as the valve rotates. Thefvalve rests on the table i2 and is mounted on a vertical shaft 3l carried in spaced bearings 32.,- 33, 34 formed respectively in the cover plate I4., the table I2 and the frame I3. The shaft is intermittently rotated by an indexing disc 35 of .a Geneva mechanism carried thereon. The disc carries a plurality of depending cam rollers 36: spaced at intervals adjacent its periphery. These rollers are successively engaged by an indexing cam 3l (see Fig. 4) which is mounted on a cross-shaft 38 journaled in bearings 39 formed in the machine frame i3. The crossshaft is continuously rotated in any suitable manner. This is a conventional Geneva indexing device.

As the entrance valve i6 rotates through its intermittent or step-by-step movement, it carries a received can end A through a circular path of travel adjacent and inside the valve seat I'I and into the vacuumized chamber II. It is this intrduction of the can end into the chamber that results in partially vacuumizing the can end channel C and the channel is thereby practically freed of any air or other gaseous sul)n stances. In the chamber the can end is dis charged from the entrance valve by way of a discharge finger 42 which is located behind the can end in the valve pocket. There is one of these fingers for each pocket. Each finger is mounted on the lower end of a vertical pin 43' carried in a bearing in the valve. The upper end of the pin carries a lever 44 having a cam roller 45 rwhich operates in and traverses a cam groove 46 formed in the lower surface of the stationary cover plate I4.

A can end introduced in the chamber I'I is received in a pocket 48 of an intermittently rotated turret 49 disposed within the chamber. There are six pockets in the turret 49 to correspond with the entrance valve I6 and each pocket is formed with a supporting ledge 5I (Figs. 1 and machine.

tional lifter device ci the type 3) on which the received can end is supported. A guide rail 52 disposed adjacent the periphery of the turret retains the can ends in their pockets. The turret rests on the table I2 and is mounted on a vertical shaft 53 carried in bearings 54, 55 respectively in the table I 2 and in the frame i3. The turret is rotated in time with the entrance valve I6 by way of a gear 56 which is carried on the turret shaft. This gear meshes with and is driven by a gear 5l mounted on the entrance valve shaft 3 l.

As the turret 4S moves through its intermittent partial rotations, it brings a can end to rest at a lining station located within the chamber II. lt is at this station that the fluid sealing compound D is deposited into the nearly completely vacuumized channel C of the can end to produce the unbroken gasket E hereinbefore mentioned. While at this station the can end to be lined is raised slightly in its turret pocket 48 and is rotated by a continuously rotating lifter pad 52 (Fig. 3) which moves up into the countersunk'. panel B of the can end.

The lifter pad $2 when in its normal lowered or depressed position is within a recess 53 formed in the table I2. The lifter pad may be formed on the upper end of a vertical lift rod 64. The rod extends down through and is slidably keyed in an actuating sleeve 65 carried in a bearing S6 in the table. A lflange on the upper end of the sleeve operates in the recess 63 and retains the sleeve in its bearing. a bevel pinion t1 which is secured to its lower end. The pinion meshes with and is driven. by

- a bevel gear t8 mounted ona horizontal drive shaft 69 journaled in a bearing l'I in the frame I3. ner in time with the other moving parts of the On its inner end the drive shaft car` ries an edge cam l2 which operates against the lower end of the lifter rod t4. This is a convendisclosed in United States Patent 2,085,767, issued July 6,- 1937, to R. W. Reid on Stopping Device for Can` Machinery and the Lilie.

The cam I2 is formed so that during one-half of its rotation it raises and holds the lifter rod 64 and its lifter pad 62 in raised position. This lifts and holds the can end in a lining position while the turret 4Q is stationary. This lifting of the can end brings it into engagement with and elevates anactuating rod I5 of a lining nozzle l@ secured to an inner surface of the cover plate' I4. The fluid sealing compound D issupplied to the nozzle by way of a pipe ll which leads from any suitable supply of the compound.

This elevation of the actuating rod 15* opens the nozzle i6 and thus permits the compound to flow out in a controlled stream into rthe channel C of the rotating can end. The timing is such that the can end makes one complete revolution in its elevated position and then the cam 'I2` lowers it to its original position in its turret' pocket 48. This lowering action closes the nozzle and cuts off the flow of compound. The can end stops rotating as the rotating lifter pad leavesl it in the turret pocket as it moves out of the countersunk panel B of the end. In this manner the compound is deposited entirely around the can end with the result that a continuous annular gasket of a uniform thickness is produced in the channel C. With the lining of the can end thus completed, the turret 49` on its next the discharge valve It.

The sleeve is rotated by' The shaft is rotated in any suitable man As the lined can end A approaches the discharge valve I8 it is pushed out of its turret pocket 48 by a nger 8| which is located behind the can end and in the pocket. There is one of these ngers for each pocket andeach nger is mounted on a vertical pin 82 carriedin a bearing in the turret. The lower end of each pin carries a lever arm having a cam roller which operates in and traverses a stationary cam groove 86 (Figs. 2` and 3) formed in the table.

The lined can end as it leaves its turret pocket 48 is received in a pocket 88 (Figs. 1 and 2) of the discharge valve I8. There are six of these pockets arranged adjacent the periphery of the valve and in the lower sectiorrin thesame manner as with the valve I8. The valve I8 rests on the table I2 and is mounted on a vertical shaft 89 carried in spaced bearings 9|, 92, 93 formed respectively in the cover plate I4, the table I2, and the frame I3. The shaft is intermittently rotated in time with the turret 49 and the entrance valve I6 by way of a gear 94 which is keyed to the lower end of the shaft. This gear meshes with and is driven by the turret gear G.

The intermittently7 rotating discharge valve I8 carries the lined can end A out of the partially vacuumized chamber Il and into the outside atmosphere, bringing it to a position adjacent a discharge chute Se which is nxed to the table I2 at a discharge opening 91 formed in the valve seat I9. Through this opening the lined can end is pushed out of its valve pocket 88 by a finger 98 located in the valve pocket behind the can end therein. There is one finger for each pocket.

These fingers are mounted on vertical pins 99 carried in bearings formed in the valve. The upper ends Jof the pins carry levers IBI having cam rollers it which operate in and traverse a stationary cam groove |83 formed in the cover plate I4. The cam rocks the fingers as the valve, rotates. The discharged lined can end falls into the chute 98 and is guided to any suitable place of deposit. This completes the cycle of operation of the machine for one can end.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of parts of the apparatus mentioned herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the apparatus hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

l. An apparatus for lining channeled can ends with a sealing compound, which comprises in combination a closed chamber, means for maintaining said chamber in a partially vacuumized condition, spaced means repectively for introducing and for removing can ends into and from said chamber for exhausting the channel portion of a can end of gaseous substances, a rotatable turret within said chamber for receiving a can end from said introducing means and for moving said end into lining position, devices located within said chamber adjacent said carrier means for depositing a sealing compound into the thus partially vacuumized channel while the can end is in said chamber to provide a sealing gasket free of voids in said channel, and means in said chamber adjacent said turret for successively and individually elevating and rotating said can ends upon their own axes during the deposit of said `sealing compound thereupon.

2. An apparatus for lining deep channel `can endswith a sealing compound, which comprises in combination` a closed chamber,` `meansmfor maintaining said chamber in a partially vacuf umized` condition, entrance valve means located in a wall of said chamber for introducing can ends into the chamber for exhausting the channel portions` of the can` ends of gaseous substances, a rotatable turret within said chamber `for receiving the can ends from said :entrance valve means and for carrying them into a lining position, a lining nozzle disposed `within said chamber for depositing a iluid sealing compound intothe partially vacuumized channels of said can ends while they are in said chamberto provide a sealing gasket free of `voids in said channels, means in said chamber for rotatingthe can ends upon their own axes during depositof the fluid sealing compound by said lining nozzle, discharge valve means also located in avvall of said chamber for receiving lined can ends vfrom said turret and for discharging them from said chamber, and means forrotating said turret in time with the operation of said entrance and said discharge valve means.` i i .i

3. An apparatus for lining deep channel can ends with a sealing compound, which comprises in combination a closed chamber, means for maintaining said chamber in a partially Vacuumized condition, a. rotatable entrance valve in a Wall of said chamber for introducing can ends into the chamber for exhausting the channel portions of the can ends of gaseous substances, a rotatable turret within said chamber for receiving the can `ends from said entrance valve and for carrying them to and from a lining station within said chamber, means at said lining station for elevating and rotating upon its own axis a can end received at said lining station, a lining nozzle disposed at said lining station for `depositing a fluid sealing compound into the partially vacuumized channel of the rotating can end at said lining station to provide an annular continuous sealing gasket free of voids in said channel, a rotatable discharge Valve in a wall of said chamber for receiving lined can ends from said turret and for removing them from said chamber, and means for intermittently rotating said valves and said turret in unison for advancing the can ends through said chamber in an intermittently moving procession.

4. An apparatus for lining can end channels with a sealing compound, comprising a closed chamber having means for maintaining a partial vacum therein to free said can end channel of gaseous substances, means for moving the can end through said chamber, means in said chamber for depositing a sealing compound into the thus partially vacuumized channel of the can end, movable means for engaging and rotating a can end on its axis while said axis is held in substantially fixed position in operative relation to said compound depositing means to uniformly deposit the sealing compound throughout said channel as a compact sealing gasket free of voids therein, and means for removing the gasket lined can end from said chamber for subsequent operations thereon- 5. An apparatus for lining channeled can ends with a sealing compound, comprising a closed chamber having means for maintaining the same in a partially vacuumized condition, separate means for introducing can ends into and for removing them from said chamber to permit exhausting the channel portion of a can end 7 :3f-.gaseous substances, means for' advancing the lcan ends in step by step movement through said chamber,- means Within said chamber for enL gaging Vand rotating a can end upon its own axis While said axis is held in` statinary position, and means Within said chamber adjacent said rotatable means to eiect the deposit of a sealing compound uniformly throughout the can end Ichannel while the can end is rotated on its a'xis relative t said compound depositing means to prcvide a compact sealing gasket free of voids said lianriel.

6. `An apparatus forv lining channeled can ends with a sealing compound, comprising a closed chamber,- means for maintaining said chamber in a partially vacuumized condition, spaced means respectively for introducing can ends intoand for removing them from said chamber td permit e'rhausting gaseous substances from {She} channel portion of the end, a xed nozzle Within said chamber for' depositing a sealinf,r compound into the thus partially vacuumized channel tvliile the can end is in said chamber to provide a sealing gasket free of voids in said channel means for intermittently advancing the anY end through said chamber, a movable lifter pad eng'ageable with saidv can end, and means for elevating and rotating said lifter pad' to rotate said can end upon its own axis relative to s'a-idnozzle during' the deposit of said sealing compound in the channel of the end While said advancing means is 'momentarilyv at rest.r

'7. An apparatus foi1 lining can end Channels with a sealing coiripund, comprising a closed chainherh'aving r'n'e'ans for maintaining a partial vacuum therein to free said can end channel f gaseous substances, means for moving the can erid through said chamber',I means in said chamber for depositing a sealing compound in"- to the thus partially vacuur'nized channel oi the can lend, means for engaging and rotating a a end on its axis in operative relation to said coin'- pound depositingrneans to uniformly deposit the sealing Compound throughout said channel as Va compact sealing gasket free of voids therein, and means for removing the gasket lined ean end from said chamber'. z

RALPH POTTLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ile f this patent:

UNITED' STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,817,424 Hawley June 16, 1931 1,869,630 Stone e Aug. 2, 1932 2,012,969 Miller Sept. 3, 1935 2,046,197 Kronquest June 30, 1936 2,304,859 Strickland Dec. 15, 1942 2,330,880 Gladfelter et a1. Oct. 5, 1943 2,419,951 Kastel May 6, 1947 

